Compression bra for postoperative care

ABSTRACT

A compression bra for the postoperative care of patients, wherein the bra comprises a body portion having two shoulder straps to surround the torso of a patient and to engage over her shoulders, wherein the body portion is produced at least sectionally from an elastically stretchable textile and wherein one or more compression zones are integrally worked into the elastically stretchable textile and have a modulus of elasticity with respect to a deformation in their direction of extent that is increased in comparison with the surrounding fabric.

The invention relates to a compression bra for postoperative care of patients.

Compression bras are worn after surgical interventions on the female breast to support the healing process. Different designs have become known. US 2013/0252512 A1, for example, discloses a bra of the category having a body portion that surrounds the torso of a patient, having releasable shoulder straps, having inner pockets for receiving pads, and having a connection element for attaching a drainage bag. The body portion is produced from an elastic material.

Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bra of the category.

Against this background, the invention relates to a compression bra for the postoperative care of patients, wherein the bra comprises a body portion having two shoulder straps to surround the torso of a patient and to engage over her shoulders, wherein the body portion is produced at least sectionally from an elastically stretchable textile and wherein one or more compression zones are integrally worked into the elastically stretchable textile and have a modulus of elasticity with respect to a deformation in their direction of extent that is increased in comparison with the surrounding fabric.

Suitable textiles comprise both fabrics and knitted fabrics. The position and the modulus of elasticity of the compression zones integrally worked into the textile, that is not separately sewn or stuck on, can be set variably in the course of the production process so that specific compression patterns can be realized for different surgical interventions, for example for breast preserving surgical interventions, mastectomies, mammaplasty, augmentation mammaplasty or reduction mammoplasty, without having to accept local seams that may lead to local pressure peaks.

In an embodiment, the compression zones are formed by a thread pattern modified with respect to the surrounding regions of the body portion. In the case of knitted fabrics, the thread density or the knitting pattern can vary, for example.

In an embodiment, the compression zones are formed in that additional elastic threads are seamlessly worked into the textile. The main direction of extent of the threads sewn in preferably corresponds to the direction of extent of the respective compression zone.

A combination of the two named measures can also be used in an embodiment of the invention. The modified thread pattern and/or the seamless weaving in can be implemented in a circular knitting process, for example.

As regards the arrangement and extent of the compression zones, provision can be made that at least a pair of compression zones is present that are arranged and extend symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular center axis of the bra. At least one compression zone can, for example, extend linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region. An X-shaped back reinforcement that is symmetrical with respect to the center axis can be arranged centrally in the back region, for example.

Provision can further be made that at least one compression zone extends in circular form around a cup region. The compression level can thus be set in dependence on or independently of the cup size.

Provision can also be made that at least one compression zone extends in the region of an armpit cutout.

In addition to the compression zones, the bra can furthermore have an underbust band worked integrally into the textile. The horizontally extending underbust band surrounds the body of the wearer and provides the bra with a good fit. The seamless production also results in an avoidance of disturbing seams here.

Provision is preferably made that the shoulder straps are adjustable in length and/or have two sections connected by a closure. A fine adjustment of the length of the shoulder straps can thus be made by the user to satisfy individual needs. The closure can, for example, be a hook and loop fastener.

In an embodiment, the bra has one or more fastening elements in the back region and/or in the underbust region. A fastening element for connecting a stabilizer band can be present in the back region, for example. Fastening elements for connecting drainage bags can be present in the left and/or right underbust region, for example at the underbust band. Suitable fastening elements comprise, for example, hook and loop connection elements, hooks for appending, or latching elements.

The body portion can be separate in its front or rear region and can be provided with a closure element such as a hook and loop fastener and/or a zipper to facilitate putting on and taking off.

In an embodiment, pockets for receiving breast prostheses can be sewn in the left and/or right cup region.

In an embodiment, the bra is equipped with one or more integrated or replaceable wound dressings to absorb wound secretions. The wound dressings can comprise a superabsorber, for example.

The textile is typically produced from biocompatible materials in order not to provoke a reaction of the patient, in particular in the region of the operation zone. The textile furthermore preferably has dirt repelling properties, in particular with respect to medical fluids. The materials can furthermore at least sectionally have antimicrobial properties to avoid infection at the operation zone.

Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following embodiment described with reference to the Figures. There are shown in the Figures:

FIG. 1: a front view of a bra in accordance with the invention in its closed state;

FIG. 2: a rear view of a bra in accordance with the invention in its closed state; and

FIG. 3: an inner view of a bra in accordance with the invention in its open state.

A bra in accordance with the invention is shown in the Figures that has a main body 5 that is to be placed around the torso of a patient.

The torso has left and right cups 2 at which pockets 12 a and 12 b for receiving breast prostheses are sewn. The main body 5 is divided into two parts between the cups 2 in the center of the front side to enable an easier putting on and taking off of the bra. The two parts are connected to a zipper 1 that has been separately sewn on.

Left and right straps 3 project upwardly from the main body 5, are likewise divided into two parts, and have a hook and loop fastener having a length adaptation function. The front strap parts taper upwardly in an overbust region 8 starting from the cups 2.

An underbust band 4 extending horizontally below the cups 2 provides a good fit.

A hook and loop pad 11 for attaching a stabilizing band is fastened to the rear side 7 of the main body. A hook 13 for hanging on a drainage bag is located in the region of the underbust band 4.

The main body 5 and the straps 3 of the bra are substantially produced from an elastically stretchable knitted fabric into which a plurality of compression zones have been integrally worked that have a modulus of elasticity that is increased with respect to a deformation in their direction of extent in comparison with the surrounding fabric. The working in takes place seamlessly in the circular knitting process by modifying the knitting pattern and optionally furthermore by the supply of different yarn types.

The compression zones comprises left and right armpit zones 6 a and 6 b projecting linearly downwardly from the armpit cutout, left and right breast rings 9 a and 9 b surrounding the cups 2, and a back reinforcement zone 10 extending in X shape over the whole back region 7.

The underbust band 4 is integrally worked into the knitted fabric in the same way as the compression zones 6 a, 6 b, 9, and 10.

The closure and connection elements 1, 11, and 13 and edge binding at the margins can additionally be sewn on. 

1. A compression bra for postoperative care of patients, wherein the bra comprises a body portion having two shoulder straps to surround the torso of a patient and to engage over her shoulders, the body portion is at least sectionally produced from an elastically stretchable textile, and one or more compression zones are integrally worked into the elastically stretchable textile and have a modulus of elastically increased with respect to a deformation in its direction of extent in comparison with the surrounding fabric.
 2. A bra in accordance with claim 2, wherein the compression zones are formed by a thread pattern modified with respect to the surrounding regions of the body portion.
 3. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein the compression zones are formed in that additional elastic threads are seamlessly worked into the textile.
 4. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a pair of compression zones is present that are arranged and extend symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular center axis of the bra.
 5. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 6. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one compression zone extends in circular form around a cup region.
 7. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one compression zone extends in the region of an armpit cutout.
 8. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bra furthermore has an underbust band integrally worked into the textile.
 9. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shoulder straps are adjustable in length and/or have two sections connected by a closure.
 10. A bra in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bra has one or more fastening elements in the rear region and/or underbust region.
 11. A bra in accordance with claim 2, wherein the compression zones are formed in that additional elastic threads are seamlessly worked into the textile.
 12. A bra in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least a pair of compression zones is present that are arranged and extend symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular center axis of the bra.
 13. A bra in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least a pair of compression zones is present that are arranged and extend symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular center axis of the bra.
 14. A bra in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least a pair of compression zones is present that are arranged and extend symmetrically with respect to a perpendicular center axis of the bra.
 15. A bra in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 16. A bra in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 17. A bra in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 18. A bra in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 19. A bra in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region.
 20. A bra in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one compression zone extends linearly over the body portion, with provision preferably being made that this compression zone extends perpendicular or obliquely to the perpendicular over the back region. 